Chapter six of Early Native American Writing: New Critical Essays by Helen Jaskoski includes an article written by John Lowe entitled, "I Am Joaquin!" This article provides not only biographical history of John Rollin Ridge, but also includes a summary of The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta and its acceptance and prevalence into pop culture today.[19] Lowe also includes an interpretation of the book as reflective of the life of Ridge himself and how he "has the American Dream snatched from under him".[20] He also stresses the importance of the story as a reminder of what America stands for - a land of equality and freedom.[21]
In Nineteenth-Century United States Literary Culture and Transnationality, John Carlos Rowe claims that Ridge's story on Joaquin Murieta has many political undertones that are reflective of his Cherokee roots.[22] He claims that Ridge writes in favor of the Cherokee and Iroquois tribes while at the same time criticizing the Tejon and other California tribes.[22] He also states that clear racism is seen in Ridge's writing towards the Chinese.[22] He focuses on how nationalist ideology affects various races in the area, and the negative effects it this transitional period after the Mexican War had on Native Americans.[22] In Minority Interaction in John Rollin Ridge's The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta, Peter Christensen discusses how John Rollin Ridge, in his story of Joaquin Murieta, portrays Mexicans in America as courageous heroes,[23] mocks Chinese as being feeble, weak, and pitiful (although very rich),and perceives Indians as cowards.[23] Furthermore, he criticizes contemporary interpretations of the Mexicans as reflecting the Cherokee's - John Rollin Ridge's Tribe's - hatred towards the Americans and their government and critiques the viewpoint that the tale is a story of Robin Hood stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.[23]
Chapter seven of John Rollin Ridge: His Life and Works by J. W. Parins gives an extensive and detailed historical, political, social, and cultural context of The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta. Parins highlights California and Mexican/American interaction during the time the book was published, the book's various publications and reprints, and the portrayal of Joaquin Murieta in various other works. In the other chapters, Parins discusses the life of Ridge, as well as The Poems of John Rollin Ridge.
